Sewing machine having push button controls



Nov. 16, 1965 A. J. NOVAK 3,217,679

SEWING MACHINE HAVING PUSH BUTTON CONTROLS Filed NOV. 12, 1963 STEP- RELAY INVENTR.

United States atent O 3,217,679 SEWING l'VIACHINE HAVING PUSH BUTTON CONTROLS Anna J. Novak, 2743 W. Giddings Ave., Chicago, Ill. Filed Nov. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 322,691 1 Claim. (Cl. 112219) This invention relates generally to sewing machines. More specifically, it relates to sewing machines for household use as well as industrial or factory production.

It is generally well known to those skilled in the art that most electrically powered sewing machines are controlled by means of a foot pedal or by means of a lever actuated by the operators knee. Such control of a sewing machine is not precisely accurate and it therefore is not ideal. Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a sewing machine having selfcontained means whereby the machine may be controlled by the operators hand.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a sewing machine having the controls conveniently located upon the upper side of the machine base, where they are readily visible and can be conveniently used.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a sewing machine wherein the controls are comprised of a plurality of push buttons, each of which is conveniently located for ready accessibility by the operators hand.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a sewing machine wherein the location of the push buttons is separated and wherein the push button most important to the safety of the operator is located immediately near the operators hand during the sewing operation.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a sewing machine bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and eificient in operation and use.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a sewing machine shown incorporating the present invention thereon; and

FIGURE 2 is an electrical circuit contained within the sewing machine illustrated in FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the numeral represents a sewing machine having push button controls according to the present invention wherein there is a base element 11 and a sewing machine head 12 having the conventional upstanding post 13 and horizontally extending arm 14. The needle bar 15 supporting a needle 16 is carried by the arm for reciprocal vertical movement relative to mechanism within the base element. Such mechanism includes a hook, looper, shuttle and the associate structure. The base element is comprised of a rectangular upper panel 17, parallel spaced apart front and rear sides 18 and parallel, spaced apart end walls 19. On the upper side of the panel 17 there is a dial 20 imprinted or engraved with legend indicating Slow, Medium, and Fast, as shown by the initials S, M and F in FIGURES l and 2 of the drawing. An opening 21 is provided through the upper panel through which a push button 22 extends. The push, or dial, button 22 is afiixed to a shaft 23 extending vertically into the base element which operates a rheostat 24. It is to be noted that the dial button is located near the right side of the upper panel and not relatively close to where the operator uses her hand during the sewing operation. This is because once the speed of the machine is set, it need not be continually attended to or changed. On the other hand, an Off-On control switch 25 is located relatively close to the place where the sewing operation occurs so that it may be quickly controlled by the operator by simply extending a small finger during the sewing operation. This control switch includes an opening 26 in the upper panel through which a push button 27 extends. The push button communicates with a switch, not shown in the drawing of FIGURE 1 but which is indicated in FIGURE 2, and which clearly indicates that the switch is in the main line between the sewing machine motor 28 and the source of power 29. Appropriate legend 30 indicating the Off and On is engraved or otherwise imprinted upon the upper panel 17 adjacent the push button 27.

In operative use, the operator sets the dial button 22 to the speed desired by rotating the knob with her hand. She then controls the movement of the work under the needle by means of depressing the switch 27 which is located near her right hand and which can be controlled by simply extending a small finger thereto.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claim.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

In a sewing machine, the combination of a base element, a sewing machine head, said head having means to be mounted upon said base, said head comprising an upstanding post, a horizontal side arm, said side arm supporting a vertical movable needle bar, carrying a needle associated with mechanism therebelow within said base element and said base element having self contained control means whereby the operation of the sewing machine may be turned on and off and the operational speed may be controlled, said base element comprising a housing having a rectangular flat upper panel vertically extending front and rear sidewalls, parallel spaced apart end walls, said walls and upstanding upper panel enclosing a compartment, said compartment containing an electrical motor mechanically connected to mechanism performing a sewing operation, a rheostat and a control switch, said upper panel being provided with control means for operating said rheostat and said control switch, said control means for said rheostat comprising a dial on the upper side of said upper panel, said dial being located relatively far from said needle bar, an opening through the upper panel said rheostat having a shaft extending upwardly through said opening and the upper end of said shaft having a rotatable dial button which 3 is manually movable for selectively altering the speed of said motor, said control means for said control switch comprising an opening extending through the upper panel, said opening being located relatively close to said needle bar, a knob extending upwardly through said opening, the upper end of said knob being relatively flush with said upper side of said upper panel, said knob communicating with said control switch, said control switch, said rheostat and said motor being connected in series electrically, said dial and rotatable dial button of said rheostat being located at the right of the said upstanding post and relatively near the front edge of said upper panel and said control knob of said control switch being located forwardly and to the right of said needle bar.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT V. SLOAN, Primary Examiner. 

